Tonga Police continues to develop in challenging times, says retiring Commissioner [1]
Saturday, April 10, 2021 - 20:32. Updated on Sunday, April 11, 2021 - 20:54.
Tonga Police are having to rethink how to respond to national security challenges, Police Commissioner Stephen Caldwell said yesterday at his farewell parade.
The challenges are “the increasing prevalence of illicit drugs in our community, the threat of the health pandemic, and the ever-present challenges of living in a region with frequent and more intense tropical cyclones.”
He said a high priority would continue to be training and development of a new generation of police officers to meet the law enforcement challenges here and within our region.
“In challenging times we will continue to develop, we will continue to forge new opportunities with local and regional partners to fight the war on drugs. The police cannot do this alone,” he said.
Commissioner Caldwell thanked the Prime Minister and his government for the support of law and order in the fight against illicit drugs.
He also appreciated the governments of Australia and New Zealand “for their extraordinary support,” and said that following the riots of 2006 the tripartite agreement between the governments of Australia New Zealand and Tonga was the catalyst for the Tonga Police Development Programme.
He acknowledged, “the courage sacrifices, persistence and hard work of the men and the women of Tonga Police”.
Thirty five medals and awards for long service and other awards were presented, and 64 diplomas for Recruit Wings 43 and 45.
The farewell parade and a reception for the Commissioner and his wife Wendy were held at the new Tonga Police College in Nuku'alofa. They will return to New Zealand after six years in Tonga. Caldwell said he was retiring after 43 years of policing.
Meanwhile, a new Police Commissioner for Tonga has yet to be named.